Proverbs 1

Proverbs 1Expanded Bible (EXB)

The Importance of Proverbs

1 These are the ·wise words [proverbs] of Solomon son of David, king of Israel.

2 They teach wisdom and ·self-control [discipline; instruction];they will help you understand ·wise words [insightful sayings].3 They will teach you how to be ·wise [insightful] and ·self-controlled [disciplined]and will teach you to do what is ·honest [righteous] and ·fair [just] and ·right [virtuous].4 They make the ·uneducated [simpleminded; immature; naive] ·wise [prudent]and give knowledge and ·sense [discretion] to the young.5 Wise people can also listen and ·learn [add/increase teaching];even ·they [L those with understanding] can find good ·advice in these words [guidance].6 Then ·anyone [L they] can understand ·wise words [proverbs] and ·stories [or difficult sayings],the words of the wise and their ·riddles [difficulties].

10 My ·child [L son], if sinners try to ·lead [seduce; entice] you into sin,do not follow them.11 They will say, “Come with us.Let’s ambush and kill someone;let’s attack some innocent people just for fun.12 Let’s swallow them alive, ·as death does [like the grave/L Sheol];let’s swallow them whole, ·as the grave does [L like those who go down into the pit].13 We will ·take [L find] all kinds of ·valuable things [L precious wealth]and fill our houses with ·stolen goods [plunder].14 ·Come join us [L Throw in your lot with us],and we will share ·with you stolen goods [L a single bag (of loot)].”15 My ·child [L son], do not go ·along with them [L on their path];·do not do what they do [L keep your foot from their way/path].16 ·They are eager to do evil [L For their feet run toward evil]and are quick to ·kill [L shed blood].17 It is useless to spread out a netright where the birds can see it.18 But sinners will ·fall into their own traps [L set up a deadly ambush];they ·will only catch [L lie in wait for] themselves!19 All greedy people end up this way;·greed kills selfish people [L they take their own lives].

Wisdom Speaks

20 Wisdom [C the personification of God’s wisdom; 8:1–36; 9:1–6] ·is like a woman shouting [L shouts] in the street;she ·raises her voice [yells out] in the city squares [C the hub for business, government, and social interaction].21 She cries out ·in the noisy street [L at the top of the noisy throng]and shouts at the [L entrances of] city gates:22 “You ·fools [simpletons; immature ones], how long will you be ·foolish [immature]?How long will you make ·fun of wisdom [mocking so dear to you]and hate knowledge?23 If only you had ·listened [responded] when I corrected you,I would have ·told you what’s in my heart [L poured forth my spirit to you];I would have ·told you what I am thinking [L revealed my words to you].24 I called, but you ·refused to listen [rejected me];I held out my hand, but you paid no attention.25 You ·did not follow [ignored] my adviceand did not ·listen when I corrected [want me to correct] you.26 So I will laugh ·when you are in trouble [L at your calamity].I will ·make fun [ridicule you] when disaster strikes you,27 when ·disaster [dread] comes over you like a ·storm [tempest],when trouble strikes you like a whirlwind,when ·pain [distress] and ·trouble [oppression] overwhelm you.

28 “Then you will call to me,but I will not answer.You will ·look for [seek] me,but you will not find me.29 It is because you ·rejected [hated] knowledgeand did not choose to ·respect [fear; hold in awe] the Lord.30 You did not ·accept [want] my advice,and you rejected my correction.31 So you will ·get what you deserve [L eat from the fruit of your path];you will ·get what you planned for others [or be satisfied with your own counsel].32 ·Fools [The simple/immature] will die because they ·refuse to listen [L turn away];·they [L fools] will be destroyed because ·they do not care [of complacency].33 But those who ·listen to [obey] me will live in safety·and be at peace, without fear of injury [untroubled by the dread of harm].”

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